Spirited Posh Secure Point
Peterborough United secured a 1-1 draw with high-flying Walsall at the ABAX Stadium as a penalty from substitute Michael Bostwick earned Grant McCann's men a point following a controversial clash with the Saddlers.Jermaine Anderson was sent-off for throwing a water bottle over the dugout with the fourth official bringing the incident to the attention of the referee Mr Heywood.
Reece Flanagan fired inches wide of the target from 20-yards on seven minutes after both sides showed some neat touches in the early exchanges in the late summer sunshine at the ABAX Stadium.
A glorious pass from Maddison picked out Coulibaly on 12 minutes, but his cut back was pounced on by Etheridge with Angol waiting to tap home.
Jermaine Anderson whistled a shot wide of the target moments later after a patient Posh build-up including Coulibaly and Angol.
Alnwick produced a decent stop to deny Flanagan on 27 minutes as the Saddlers put together a neat move in possession.
Oztumer saw a curler from 20-yards beaten away by Etheridge on 36 minutes after good persistence from Coulibaly in a tight area.
Due to the flow of the game, the first half concluded dead on 45 minutes with no injury time indicated by the fourth official.
A deflected Bradshaw effort nearly wrong-footed goalkeeper Alnwick on 48 minutes, but the goalkeeper kept his eye on the ball and made a routine save.
On 53 minutes, the visitors opened the scoring and it was a stunning strike from Romaine SAWYERS, who saw his 30-yard effort fly past Alnwick and into the back of the net.
Coulibaly curled a shot over from the edge of the area after good initial work from Jermaine Anderson as Posh tried to respond.
Posh made a change on 61 minutes with Jon Taylor replacing Maddison. Sawyers fired wide after intercepting Oztumer's attempted lay-off as the Saddlers came close to a second goal.
Walsall made a double change just before the 70 minute mark with Bradshaw among those to depart. Alnwick made a routine stop to deny Sawyers moments later after Smith's interception inadvertently fell into his path.
Grant McCann introduced Conor Washington for Lee Angol in his second change of proceedings. Michael Bostwick replaced Forrester on 82 minutes.
However, before the game restarted, Posh were reduced to 10-men as Jermaine Anderson was shown a straight red card for apparently throwing a water bottle off the pitch too powerfully. An incredible decision on first viewing.
The home side didn't get too annoyed by the decision though as moments later, they were back in the game as on 87 minutes, BOSTWICK was upended in the box by goalkeeper Etheridge and the substitute stepped up and slammed the penalty straight down the middle to level the scores.
Alnwick produced two stunning saves to deny Lalkovc and then Sawyers as the Saddlers pressed as we entered five minutes of added time.
Lalkovic headed over a cross from the right three minutes into added time. A curler from Forde was well held by goalkeeper Alnwick as the game drew to its conclusion. However, right at the death, Posh had a lucky escape as Mantom crashed the bar.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Almeida Santos, Elder, Zakuani, Forrester (sub Bostwick 82min), Maddison (sub Taylor 61min), Oztumer, Angol (sub Washington 75min), Coulibaly, J. Anderson. Unused subs: Henry, Davey, Da Silva Lopes, Collison.
Walsall: Etheridge, Demetriou, Taylor, O'Connor, Downing, Chambers, Mantom, Bradshaw (sub Lalkovic 69min), Sawyers, Henry, Flanagan (sub Cook 69min). Unused subs: MacGillvray, Baxendale, Forde,Preston, Morris.
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-0 Walsall
Full-time: Peterborough United 1-1 Walsall
Attendance: 5,859 (387 Walsall fans)